foster



D. J. FOSTER ENGINE CLAMP March 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 19

e Ev INVENTOR. DALLAS J. FOSTER QMJM ATTORNEY D. J. FOSTER ENGINE CLAMP March 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DALLAS J. FOSTER fiiw Filed Jan. 2, 1962 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,124,346 ENGINE CLAMP Dallas 5. Foster, 895' 9th Ave. N, lluhl, l'daho F-ed .lan. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 163,713 Claims. (6!. 269- 76)) The present invention relates generally to tools for working on small engines, and in particular to an improved rigid mounting means enabling rapid mounting of such engines for easy accessibility thereof.

Heretor'ore, dimcul-ty has been encountered in working on small engines of the type employed in motor scooters, power mowers,'etc. and there has been no acceptable means providing .a convenient clamping arrangement enabling positioning of the motor in any position while working on it and at the same time freeing both hands for work.

it is a primary object of invention to provide a clamp, and construction therefor, on which such motors may be readily mounted and positioned in any desired position for working. i

A further important object is the provision of such a clamp that will accommodate both vertical and horizontal shaft motors.

Another object is the provision of such a clamp having a readily removable and replace-able work lbed whereby even engines of odd configuration may be accommodated.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and carried into effect reference is made to the accompanying drawings and the description thereof which are offered by way of illustration only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims rather than by any preceding description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the clamp in one position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective View similar to FIG. 1 but showing the clamp rotated to a different position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the clamp construction of FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing the clamp in one position and, by dotted lines, showing another working position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the locking and rotation assembly of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 13, the clamp comprises a base plate 11 which is adapted to be secured to any rigid work surface sue-n as a bench surface 12 (FIG. 3).

Two spaced-apart parallel bracket members 13 are suitably secure-d, as by welding, to the base plate and extend upwardly therefrom to serve as both hinge plates and supports. These members are cut with an angled edge surface 14 serving a particular purpose to be hereinafter explained in greater detail.

A second main support plate 16 is provided to extend generally vertically from the base plate transversely of the brackets 13 and is pivotally mounted on the brackets 13 by means of a pair of binge straps 17 which are pivotally connected to the support plate by means of a suitable pin or bolt 18.

To hold the plate 16 in any desired tilted position (see FIG. 3) utilization may be made of a nut and screw tightening arrangement such as is generally illustrated at 18; but advantageously, a locking pin 19* may be employed which is a spring loaded pin secured to the strap and arranged to engage holes 21 to hold the main support '16 in the proper position as shown, for instance, in FIG. 3 where, it will be noted, the main upstanding support 16 has been tilted to rest against the angled edge 14 of the vertical brackets :13, thus providing a firm support for the assembly. When locked in place, a very rigid working support is provided.

The actual support upon which the engine rests is provided by a horizontally extending clamp plate 22 which is mounted to extend in cantilever fashion outwardly from the main pivoted upright support 16. This cantilever mounting is accomplished by means of a particular construction comprising the base plate itself (2%) a transverse end plate 23 suitably secured, as by welding, to one end of the clamp plate 22 and machined to enable a snug face-to-face sliding relationship between the end plate 23 and the main upright 16.

A bore 24 is provided in the upright 16 and the end plate 23 is provided with a stub shaft 25 adapted to be received into and extend through a s ecial bushing 26 received in the bore 24 of the support 16.

Further support is provided on the opposite side of the main support 16 in the form of a further plate 27 which is bored to receive the bushing member 28 through which the stub shaft 25 extends from the opposite plate 23. This provides a readily replace-able bushing to properly journal the stub shaft 25- and thus enable precise rotation of the base plate 22.

The construction and dimensioning of the various elements is important. That is to say, the bushing 26 is of a construction providing a minor diameter shaft portion 26' and a major diameter portion 25 which are separated by a sharp shoulder 36. The bore 24 in the second or upstanding main support plate 16 is dimensioned to jour n-al the major diameter portion 26 of the bushing 26 to enable its rotation with respect to the plate 16. The length of the bushing 26 is such that major diameter portion 2s" is substantially the same or slightly less than the thickness of plate 16 and the minor diameter portion 26' is slightly longer than the thickness of locking plate 27. By this arrangement, the nuts 29 in conjunction with the threaded end 25 of the stub shaft are employed to tighten plates 2-3 and 27 together, using the major diameter part as" as a combination spacer and bearing, so that the support lamp plate assembly is rotatable with respect to the upstanding support member -16.

Obviously, plate 23, clamp plate 22, stub shaft 25 and opposite plate 27 could be keyed together. Such an arrangement is within the scope of the present invention. A simple method of accomplishing this is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein there are shown bores 76* in plate 23 and major diameter hub portion 26" (as well as in plate 27) through which a pin '71 extends to align the pieces.

As previously noted, the stub shaft 25 is provided with threads at its outer end so that, after passage through the main support 16 and the opposite plate 27, the assembly may be snugly secured together and locked by means of suitable nuts 29.

A spring pin lock is also provided on the outer plate 27 to enable locking of the clamp plate 22 in any one of a plurality of posit-ions when it is revolved about the axis defined by stub shaft 25. The lock is provided by means of a threaded bore 31 in the outer plate 27 in which is fitted a nipple 32, a coupling 33 is screwed over the nipple and a tfurther nipple 34 is screwed into the coupling. A pin 36 of a size to be received snugly in openings 37 of plate 16 is provided. Such pin terminates at one end in a nob 38 and is provided with a top washerlike member 39 which is desirably a cap to screw onto the outer threaded end of the nipple 34. A compressible spring 41 and pin 42 for holding the spring in a normally compressed position are provided which work in conjunction with a slot 43 in the wall of nipple 34- and through which the small pin 42 may be impressed into an opening in the pin 36 to thereby hold the spring compressed so that, with the cap 39 in position, the pin 36 is urged against the plate 27.

As will be particularly noted by reference to FIGS. 1

i should additional rigidity be desired.

and 2, the entire clamp plate 22 can be rotated to any one of a variety of positions through a full 360. Obviously, there may be as many holes 37 as desirable for locking the clamp plate. Also, the plate may be locked, though less rigidly, by compressible washer members, not shown, acting between the plates 23 and 27 and the main support 16.

In order to hold the engine in proper position, the clamp plate 22 is provided with clamps on both of its opposite faces, each useful for different types of engines depending upon the physical structure.

it is an important feature of this invention that it is adaptable to both vertical and horizontal shaft engines. Basically the engines differ only in configuration and their position on either part of the clamp base is shown in dotted lines in the drawings.

In the view shown in FIG. 1 the clamp arrangement for holding engines on the clamp plate comprises two generally upright members and 47. Of these, it will be noted, one member (47) is rigid, being mounted at a slight angle to converge toward the other member. This provides a positive clamping arrangement when used in conjunction with the opposite member 46.

The opposite member 46 is provided with an auxiliary clamp which is formed from a relatively fiat but resilient member 48 attached at its lower extremity to a spring steel member 49; the member 43 is provided with hinge straps 51 which are in turn pivotally mounted to an up right member 46 at suitable pivots 52.

A tightening screw 53 is provided which is threaded through the upright member 56 so that, upon inward screwing, it moves the auxiliary clamp member 4-8 inwardly against the tension of the spring steel 49 to clamp against the side of the engine and hold it in place between it and the opposite diagonal upright 4-7.

A separate auxiliary clamp angle 54 is also provided in order to use the auxiliary clamp 54, the clamp is swung into position and a bolt inserted through the opening 56 into a screw hole in the engine itself.

The clamping arrangement just described is particularly adapted for clamping of vertical shaft motors of the type not having a flanged base for clamping.

The opposite side of the clamp plate 22 is particularly adapted for engines of the horizontal shaft type having a mounting base or flange,

A structure of this side of the clamp is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. There is will be noted that there are provided dowels 56 adapted to mate with openings in the base of the engine to be mounted; and clamping is effected by means of a first screw clamp 57 and an auxiliary screw clamp 58. The first screw clamp 57 receives the flange of the engine base and clamps down on it by means of a screw 59.

At the opposite end there is provided an auxiliary clamp $8 which is of a particular construction to enable its movement out of the way during initial placement of the engine on the base. This is provided by making the clamp as a U shape, and then providing the bottom lip of the U with an elongated opening 61 which fits loosely about a mounting stud 62 rigidly suitably secured and locked into the base plate 22. A convenient system for limiting the travel of the clamp is provided by nuts 62 which may be moved up and down the screw 62 to provide a block against movement of the clamp member 53.

With the elongated opening 61 and the available length of the bolt 62, clamp member 53 may be moved out and away from the clamp plate during initial placement of the engine to be later swung back into place and the clamping screw 63 screwed down onto the work.

In the event odd shaped motors are to be accommodated requiring a particular shaped base, the problem is A. readily solved simply by removal of the clamp plate 22 and submitting therefor a new base assembly which will include the plate 22, inner "support disc 23 and shaft 25. In some instances an adapter plate may be bolted directly to the existing base plate.

All such modifications are within the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A device for fixedly mounting articles such as small engines in any of a plurality of positions to enable work thereon comprising a base, an upwardly extending support plate, means hingedly connecting said support plate to said base for angular movement with respect thereto, said means comprising a pair of spaced apart hinge plates extending upwardly from said base, a pair of spaced apart hinge straps adjacent the bottom of said support plate and means pivotally joining said hinge straps to said spaced apart hinge plates; stop means cooperative between said base and said support plate limiting angular movement of the latter said stop means comprising angled surface portions formed adjacent the upper ends of said spaced apart hinge plates, said surface portions being adapted to engage said support plate upon angular movement thereof toward said hinge plates, an article clamp including a clamp plate having clamp members adapted to secure articles to at least one face thereof, means rotatably mounting said clamp plate to said support plate to extend therefrom in cantilever fashion whereby said clamp plate is rotatable about its axis, and lock means co-operative between said clamp plate and said support plate to lock said clamp plate against rotation.

2. A structure according to preceding claim 1 in which said means rotatably mounting said clamp plate to said support plate comprises a bore in said support plate, a first bearing plate secured to one end of said clamp plate, a shaft secured at one end to said clamp plate and having its free end extending through said first bearing plate and said bore of said support plate, a second bearing plate received on said free end of said shaft of the opposite side of said support plate, and means rigidly securing said first and second bearing plates to each other with said support plate therebetween.

3. A structure according to preceding claim 2 in which said means securing said first and second bearing plates together includes a bushing having a minor diameter portion extending through said second bearing plate and a major diameter portion extending through said bore in said support plate, a bore in said first bearing plate and in said major diameter portion of said bushing, and a pin received in said bores.

4. A structure according to preceding claim 2 in which said lock means locking said clamp plate against rotation comprises a plurality of openings in said support plate spaced about said bore through which said shaft extends, and a spring loaded plunger mounted on said second hearing plate adapted to be received by said openings.

5. A structure according to preceding claim 2 in which clamp means are provided on both faces of said clamp plate and said clamp means on one face of said clamp plate comprises a first post extending substantially vertically from said one face, a second post extending from said one face and spaced from and converging toward said first post, an auxiliary clamp member hingedly connected to said first post adjacent the top thereof, and means for controllably urging said auxiliary clamp member toward said second post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,127,708 Wilber Feb. 9, 1915 1,792,612 Staley Feb. 17, 1931 2,564,566 Duffy Aug. 14, 1951 

1. A DEVICE FOR FIXEDLY MOUNTING ARTICLES SUCH AS SMALL ENGINES IN ANY OF A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS TO ENABLE WORK THEREON COMPRISING A BASE, AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING SUPPORT PLATE, MEANS HINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID SUPPORT PLATE TO SAID BASE FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED APART HINGE PLATES EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, A PAIR OF SPACED APART HINGE STRAPS ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF SAID SUPPORT PLATE AND MEANS PIVOTALLY JOINING SAID HINGE STRAPS TO SAID SPACED APART HINGE PLATES; STOP MEANS COOPERATIVE BETWEEN SAID BASE AND SAID SUPPORT PLATE LIMITING ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER SAID STOP MEANS COMPRISING ANGLED SURFACE PORTIONS FORMED ADJACENT THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID SPACED APART HINGE PLATES, SAID SURFACE PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SUPPORT PLATE UPON ANGULAR MOVEMENT THEREOF TOWARD SAID HINGE PLATES, AN ARTICLE CLAMP INCLUDING A CLAMP PLATE HAVING CLAMP MEMBERS ADAPTED TO SECURE ARTICLES TO AT LEAST ONE FACE THEREOF, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID CLAMP PLATE TO SAID SUPPORT PLATE TO EXTEND THEREFROM IN CANTILEVER FASHION WHEREBY SAID CLAMP PLATE IS ROTATABLE ABOUT ITS AXIS, AND LOCK MEANS CO-OPERATIVE BETWEEN SAID CLAMP PLATE AND SAID SUPPORT PLATE TO LOCK SAID CLAMP PLATE AGAINST ROTATION. 